Azerbaijan's FM Bayramov Makes First Wartime Visit to Ukraine

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov made his first visit to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, touring sites in Irpin before meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to Zelensky’s statement, Bayramov began his trip visiting a school, a hospital, and a rehabilitation center supported by Azerbaijan. He reported the two leaders discussing Russia’s continued strikes on Ukraine, as well as Moscow’s effort to choke Ukraine’s Black Sea grain corridor.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “We are very grateful that, in these difficult days for our country and our people, he found the opportunity to come and support us,” Zelensky said. Diplomatic visit to Ukraine following renewed ties with Moscow Bayramov’s trip to Kyiv comes as he recently met with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in mid-July, where the two signaled that the turbulence in the countries’ relations is over. Bayramov said that the two countries had managed to leave a “difficult period” behind and “fully normalize” bilateral relations. The move signaled a deepening diplomatic and transportation cooperation, even as Azerbaijani President Illham Aliyev publicly backs Ukraine. In June, Aliyev delivered a message to Ukraine to “never accept occupation.” His remarks came as Azerbaijan has managed to restore its territorial integrity after nearly three decades of conflict with Armenia, traditionally backed by Moscow. Other Topics of Interest Ukraine Burns While Trump Fiddles As Putin exploits US munitions shortages to batter Ukraine before winter, Trump's flip-flopping on Patriot missiles has squandered America's leverage. In April, Zelensky made his first wartime visit to Azerbaijan, where he signed six bilateral agreements aimed at deepening security and defense cooperation with Baku. By contrast, Bayramov and Lavrov signed the Consultations Plan for 2026–27 just days later in April. Critics argue that Azerbaijan is keeping both ties alive to preserve its room for maneuver – assuring Russia it is not drifting toward the West, while also signaling to Kyiv and Europe that it does not align with Moscow’s values. Russia’s escalating bid to choke Ukraine’s grain corridor Zelensky accused Russia of escalating its campaign to cripple Ukraine’s Black Sea grain exports, saying no commercial vessels entered the country’s ports on July 23, as Moscow steps up its attacks on maritime infrastructure. Ukrainian and allied authorities have repeatedly framed Russia’s disruption of Black Sea shipping as more than a bilateral issue, warning that the attacks threaten global food security far beyond Ukraine’s borders. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.